Tunisian leader among four conferred Jamnalal Bajaj Awards

Well-known Gandhian and President of Tunisia's Ennahdha Party, Sheikh Rached Ghannouchi was among four prominent personalities conferred with the prestigious 39th Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation Awards for 2016 here on Monday.

The other recipients are: Mohan Hirabai Hiralal of Vrikshamitra and BonBehari Vishnu Nimbkar, founder of Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute, both from Maharashtra, and Nannapaneni Manga Devi, founder-secretary, Sri Venkateswara Bala Kuteer & Chetana Charitable Trust in Andhra Pradesh.

The awardees were felicitated by chief guest, Justice (retd.) C.S. Dharmadhikari who is the chairman of the Council of Advisors of the Foundation, in the presence of industrialist Rahul Bajaj, the chairman of the board of trustees.

The award carried a citation, a trophy and a prize of Rs 10 lakh each, and served the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi to which Jamnalal Bajaj had dedicated his entire life.

"There is an utmost need to identify those who unswervingly dedicated their entire existence in propagating and perpetuating the noble ethos and philosophy of Gandhian values," said Rahul Bajaj on the occasion.

He said the awardees deserve to be felicitated for their everlasting efforts in moving the lives of individuals emotionally, economically and socially, there by personifying Gandhian principles with resilient conviction.

The awards, commemorating the birth anniversary of Jamnalal Bajaj, are a meant as a tribute to these selfless and courageous real-life heroes.

--IANS

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